Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1887-04-29
CORN PREMIUMS.
MISSOURI STATE BOARD OF AGRI-
CULTURE, COLUMBIA, Mo-, April
2, 1887.

MISSOURI STATE BOARD OF AGRI-
CULTURE, COLUMBIA, Mo-, April
2, 1887.
To the Public:
The State Board of Agriculture,
for the purpose of collecting valu-
able information, and to stimulate
better methods of corn culture in
our State, which now averages but
twenty-six and a fraction bushels
of corn per acre, an amount too
small to return a profit for its
growth, offers the following pre-
miums, on the followings condi-
tions, namely: One hundred {S100)
dollars for the first premium,
fifty $500 for the second, and
twenty-five (S25) for third prem
ium first, second and third largest
yields of corn. To this premium,
Abiel Leonard, member of the
Board from Saline Co., offers
500 in addition, open to the COM
petition of the State. I have not
received from him statement of
his division of the money, ,and can
not say whether it will 60 to first
premium, or will be divided into
first, second and third, as the
Board premium is. I wrote for
instructions, but, doubtless, owing
to his absence, have received no
answer, and owing to the nearness
of planting, denim it best to wait
no longer.
CONDITIONS,
I. The area under competition
shall be five acres.
II. The rows, neither at their
ends or sides, shall reach within
two feet of the outside of the five
acres.
III. The ground shall be meas
ured by the county surveyor, or
some competent person deputized
by him, and shall be duly certified.
~. The distance apart of the
rows and hills shall be stated in
the returns of the crops, also the
actual number of plants to the acre
at harvest, both barred and bear
ing plants.
V. There shall be given also the
depth and time of plowing, the
time of planting, the number of
times cultivated, the depth of cul-
tivation, or whether deep or shall
low, the depth of planting, the va
riety of corn used, the measure
ment and description of an aver
age ear, with height of stalk.
VI. The previous crops grown
for three past years shall be stat
ed, together with a description of
the soil. In case it is requir-
ed, sample of the soil upon which
the best crops are grown, shall be
forwarded for analysis, at our ex-
pense for transportation and ana
lysis.
VII. A careful statement shall
be made of the manuring restort-
ed to to increase the crop, both in
kind and quality, including meth
cd of use.
VIII. The crop of corn is to
be, all of it, actually weighed by a
justice of the peace, or some one
appointed by him. and shall be
duly certified to. On or before the
Goth of October, and on the day
when the harvesting of the corn
begins from the center two rows
twenty hills in from the end, ffty
lbs. are gathered. This corn shall
be weighed accurately and for
warded by express to the S ecreta-
ry, to test for moisture. By this
means, justice will be secured to
all, and the actual yield of dry
corn per acre ascertained, perhaps
for the first time. No corn shall
be harvested when moist from rain
or dew.
TX. Before the prize is awarded
the member of the Board nearest,
or If inconvenient for him, some
other member of the Board shall
visit the farms of those likely to
receive the award, and satisfy him
self regarding the fulfllment of i
the conditions laid down